Alejandro "Ale" Mayorkas is testifying on Capitol Hill today, as Biden's pick to lead the Department of Homeland Security - the 3rd largest federal agency.
It's not his first confirmation hearing -- previously nominated by Obama as Dep Sec in 2013, confirmed in 2014.
-FEMA should to ensure supply chain
-CISA (cyber security) should protect supply chain from cyber attacks and ensure other agencies' work protected
"the reach of the department is significant..."
"the threat of domestic extremism is one of the greatest challenges DHS confronts"
I&A (intel + analysis office) has critical role to play in partnering with state/locals to gather + share info
Mayorkas says wants to further "empower" I&A
Mayorkas: correct
Johnson: "There were children separated from their parents correct?"
Mayorkas: When I was Dep Sec, I "explicitly rejected" the policy to separate children from their parents.
(referring to border crossings)
Mayorkas: (whose prev boss, Sec. Johnson once said 1,000 crossings was 'bad day'-taxing resources) does not provide a number - says he looks forward to working with cmte in transparent way
Hassan: one thing to talk about info-sharing, another thing to coordinate. clearly we need to do better job of it.
Sen Scott, dialing into Mayorkas' confirmation hearing remotely, having audio issues
"can you hear me now?"
"maybe you can turn up your microphone? or come closer to the computer?"
Mayorkas: when I served as Dep Sec, met with Border Patrol...what I heard from them was we need a diverse approach to border security...in some instances, physical barrier, in others boots on the ground, in others tech, air + marine...
Mayorkas: Pres-elect Biden has committed to stop construction. Would be my responsibility to see through that. I have not looked at costs/benefits beyond that.
Mayorkas: ICE and CBP play critical roles in US govt and I would not abolish them
Says he looks forward to working towards reform of "broken" immigration system, as laid out in Biden's plans
(reimplementing DACA, strengthening TPS protections, etc)
"I am profoundly aware" of this growing threat
"My mother lost her paternal grandparents, 7 uncles, by reason of their Jewish faith, in the Holocaust. My mother fled her home, with her parents, because of the Holocaust."
"concerns about that...do you support mass amnesty, 11 million large number?"
Mayorkas:
Biden has committed to presenting Congress on Day1 with immigration reform bill to fix what we can all agree is broken system...
Mayorkas: i remember bipartisan legislation years ago with path to citizenship...spoke of certain requirements...(those who'd been here for years, had contributed to US, etc)...